It is with great sadness to share that Lorraine Poppe ‘69 passed away on April 16, 2019. Lorraine taught English at Baldwin Senior High School starting in 1973. She served as a master teacher, dean of students and an assistant principal before moving on to become principal at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, NY in 1995.  She was the longest-serving principal in the school’s history.  Lorraine retired from John F. Kennedy High School in 2018.  To say she touched tens of thousands of lives may be an understatement.  “Lorraine’s commitment to improving instruction and ensuring that all students are given various opportunities to succeed have been the hallmark of her success,” Ronnie Steiger, the public relations director for the Bellmore JFK Alumni Association, wrote. “An ardent supporter of all student activities, Lorraine could be seen cheering on students at virtually every co-curricular event.  She took tremendous pride in the success of the students and staff and was proud to be the leader of her beloved Cougar Nation”. 

Many of us Baldwin alumni will remember Lorraine with the same fondness.  We wouldn’t be surprised that she was an advocate for every student as many of us were her friend, her colleague, her classmate, her student. Many of us will also remember her as a beloved coach who instilled the lessons of sportsmanship and working together as a team.  We were so sad to hear the news but so grateful to have known Lorraine Poppe.  She will be sorely missed, and our thoughts are with her family.